Harness-saddle



(No Model.)

I-I. S CHMIT Z;

HARNESS SADDLE.

Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

W iigesscs ma mums frans co. PHoToLxTHa. WASHING-roy n. c.

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SCHMITZ, OF WYMORE, NEBRASKA.

HARNESS-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,739, dated April 2, 1895. Application nea september 21,1894. serai No. 523,724. (No moda.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern: p

Be it known that I, HENRY SCHMITZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wymore,

in the county of Gage and State of N ebraska,y

have invented a new and useful Harness-Saddle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to harness saddles; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful construction of gig saddles, the improvements in which are adapted for use in connection with single and double harness.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to make an improved construction of saddle and particularly the tree therefor, whereby the greatest possible degree of flexibility will be given to the saddle, while at the same time producing a saddle of exceptional strength and durability.

The invention furthermore contemplates a construction of saddle wherein ready and convenient access may be had to any partthereof for the purpose of repairing or renewing broken parts without the necessity of ripping the pad or any stitched part of the saddle, while at the same time effecting a connection between the several parts of the saddle when assembled that obviates loosening or derangement of any part of the saddle.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a harness saddle constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line -of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line y-y'of Fig. 3. Fig. 5-is a perspective view of the sectional tree, the parts ofwhich are shown disconnected. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line .z-,e of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail bottom perspective View of the cantle or seat plate of the saddle. Fig. 8

' is a similar view of the check-rein hook.

the pad-leathers 3, secured at their opposite edges to the upper opposite side edges of said burr-piece, and at the point of connection between the side edges of the padleathers and the bu rr-piece of the saddle body presently described. The pad-leathers 3, are

filled with suitable padding in the usual manner and the burr-piece of the saddle pad has secured thereto at the proper points the bu rrs or nuts 6, that receive the usual threaded shanks of the different parts of the saddle, and at the center top point of the saddle pad the burr-piece thereof suitably secures in position the upright screw post 7, the function of which will presently appear.

The longitudinal channel or recess 5, of the saddle pad formed between the upper side edges thereof removably seats or accommodates therein the self adjusting sectional saddle-tree 8. The self-adjusting sectional saddle-tree 8, comprises acurved center hookplate 9, and opposite pivoted side plates l0, which, when connected together, conform to the shape of the main saddle body l, so as to fit snugly within the channel or recess thereof and to be accommodated to the movements of the saddle when in use. The center hookplate 9, of the saddle-tree 8, is provided at a central point near one side edge with a hole or opening 1l, that loosely ts over the upright screw post 7, at the center of the saddle pad, and at a point directly oppositethe hole or opening 11, and near the other side edge, the said hook-plate 9, is further provided with the spaced rever'sely arranged beveled catch-lugs 12, the points of which are convergently disposed and provide for securing skirt leathers of the saddle in place as will be described.

The center hook-plate 9, of the tree 8, is further provided at its opposite ends with the transverse pivot grooves 13, that are substantially C-shaped,or in other words are nearly completely circular, and at the under side of said grooves, the ends of the plate 9, are

IOO

thickened to form the lower stop shoulders 14, while the end edges of the plate above the grooves form upper stopshoulders.

The transverse end grooves 13, of the center hook-plate 9, of the tree are adapted to loosely and detachably receive the transverse pivot ribsl, that are formed integrally and transversely on the inner ends of the pivoted side-plates 10. The transverse rounded pivotribs 15, of the plates 10, are also almostcompletely circular and are adapted to be inserted endwise into the grooves of the center hook plate, it being obvious that' by reason of the C-shape of the grooves of the hookplate itis` impossible for the pivot ribs to become disconnected or disengaged therefrom except by sliding the ribs out at either end of the grooves in a manner that will be easily understood. At the under side of the transverse pivot ribs 15, the inner ends of the plates 10, are thickened to form the lower stop-shoulders 17, that are opposed to the corresponding stop-shoulders 14, of the plate 9, in order to limit the downward movement of the side plates 10, the upward movement of which plates is limited by the end edges of such plates, above the ribs l5, engaging against the corresponding edges of the plate 9, above the grooves thereof. The connection described between the several plates of the sectional saddle tree permits the side plates of the tree to have alimited up and down movement so as to adjust themselves to the movements of the saddle, while at the same time the plates comprising the tree can be readily and quickly disconnected from each other and easily removed from the saddle body or pad.

The side plates 10, of the saddle tree are provided with suitably arranged holes or openings 17, that are adaptedto be arranged opposite the bnrrs or nuts6, secured to the burr-piece of the saddle body, and at theirV outer ends the side plates 10, of the tree are.

provided with the strap loops 18, that are preferably passed through the slots oropenings 19, in opposite portions of the skirt or jockey strap 20, that forms the topfacing for thesaddle body and incloses the saddle-tree within the channel or recess accommodating the same. The loops 18, that preferably project through the skirt or jockey strap have con nected thereto one endof the usual bearing straps 20, although it will be understood that' other means of arranging the bearing strap may be employed.

The skirt or jockey strap 20, isV preferably made in two pieces hinged or jointed together at the center as at 2l, in order that either side portion may be separately lifted up toexpose either side of the tree as desired, and at the proper point the said skirt or jockey strap isk provided with holes `or openings aligningwith those in the side-plates of the tree and lalso to accommodate the upright screwpost 7, and

the convergentl y disposed catchlugsl2. The

threaded shanks of the terret" rings12'2`," and:

the pad-screws 23, are passedthrou'ghthe proper aligned openings and are engaged in the burrs or nuts G, of the pad body to provide means for detachably securing the tree and the skirt or jockey strap onto the main saddle body, whereby these parts of the saddle may be readily detached or removed at `any time desired by simply removing the ter ret rings, the pad-screws, and the check-rein hook 24, that is removably engaged on the upright screw post 7, over the inner end of the cantle or seat-plate 25, of the saddle. The cantle or seat plate 25, of the saddle is of an ordinary shape and is provided at its inner Aend with an opening 26, fitting over the post 7, and fitted to the under side of said cantle or seat plate is the back strap loop 27, to which is adapted to bel connected one end of the usual back strap ofa set of harness.

The back strap loop 27, is preferably fitted to the under side of said cantle or seat-plate 25, by having a squared opening 28, in the solid portion thereof, fitted on a lug 29, and at the opposite side edges of its solid portion, the back strap loop 27, is dove-tailed or beveled as at 30, to detachably engage between the convergently disposed points of the catch lugs 12, on the hook-plate 9, of the tree. It will be noted that the solid portion of the back strap loop 27, is not only dove-tailed but p `is slightly tapered so thatwh'en the skirt or jockey strap is in position on the saddle, the dove-tailed solid portion of said back strap loop may be slid-into engagement between the lugs 12, which will provide for securely and rigidly positioning the said cantle or seat plate, andat its perforatedend at one side'of the opening 26, the said plate 25 is provided with a lock-notch 3l, with which is adapted to engage the catch-projection 32, formed on the lower end of the check rein hook 24, and adapted to spring in engagement with said notch when the hook has been'screwed down 'suthciently, so as to prevent the hook from turning and therefore preventing the cantle orseatplate 25, from loosening.

From theA above it will be obvious that the herein described saddle mainly consists of 'separable parts which are readily detachable while at the same time permitting of a sufficient degree of flexibility whereby horses of various breadths may befaccommodated and fittedwith the same saddle, and it will also be noted with respect to the tree that the same is devoidof all pintles and pintle holes usually requiredfor 'forming hinges.

Changes in theform, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted `to without departingA from the principle or sacrificingJany of the advantages of this invention. j

IIavingdescribedlthe invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters i Patent, is-' 1 1. Ina harness saddle, the combination of ,the p'ad body provided atthe top with a 1ongit-udin'al channel or recess and with burrs or nuts'at'the'properpoints, a self-adj usting sec- IOO IIO

tional tree removably fitted in the channel or recess of the saddle body and providedatits outer ends with strap loops, a skirt or jockey strap fitted over the tree and provided with holes or openings aligning with similar holes or openings in the tree opposite said burrs or nuts, said skirt or jockey strap essentially comprising centrally jointed pieces and further provided in opposite portions with slots to receive the outer strap loops of the tree, and the terret and pad screws passed through the aligned openings of the skirt or jockey strap and the tree and removably engaging said burrs or nuts, substantially as set forth.

2. In a harness saddle, the combination of the saddle body havinga center upright screw post, the saddle tree fitted on said body and provided at the center thereof with an open- :ing fitting over said screw post and with proj ecting catches, the removable skirt or jockey strap fitted over the tree and provided with openings through which project said screw post and said catchesa removable cantle or seat plate provided on its under side with a back strap loop adapted to engage the projecting catches of the tree and with an opening fitting over said screw post, said cantle or seat-plate being further provided near the opening therein with a lock notch, and the check-rein hook adapted to engage said screw post and provided on its lower end with a catch projection adapted to engage said lock notch, substantially as set forth.

3. In a harness saddle, the combination of the saddle body or pad having a center upright screw post, the saddle tree fitted on said body and provided at the center thereof with an opening fitting over said post and with spaced convergently disposed beveled catch lugs, the cantle or seat-plate fitted over said screw post and carrying on its under side a back' strap loop having a dove-tailed solid portion adapted to engage between said catch lugs, and the check-rein hook working on said screw post over the cantle or seat plate, substantially as set forth.

4. A saddle tree comprising a center hook plate provided at its opposite ends with transverse C-shaped or nearly completely circular grooves and with stop shoulders at the lower edges of said grooves, and opposite side plates provided at their inner ends with transverse nearly completely circular pivot-ribs adapted to pivotally and detachably interlock with the grooves of the hook plate said side plates also having stop shoulders below the pivot ribs thereof, substantially as set forth.

5. A saddle tree comprising a center hookplate provided at its opposite ends with transverse C-shaped or nearly completelyv circular pivot grooves and thickened lower stop shoulders at the under sides of such grooves, and opposite side plates provided at their inner ends with transverse nearly'completely cir cular pivot ribs adapted to pivotally and detachably interlock with the grooves of the hook-plate, and with thickened lower stopshoulders at the under sides of said ribs that are opposed to the corresponding shouiders of the center hook-plate, substantially as set forth. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. v

HENRY SCHMITZ. Witnesses:

J AsPER BYERS, J. U. BURoH. 

